Self-codifying lock

ABSTRACT

Self-codifying lock of the type comprising a plurality of tumblers in a tumbler pack which, on use of a key, are orientated so that a boss or finger on the bolt of the lock achieves passage in registered slots in the tumblers. A knife member constitutes a pivotal point by engaging in one of a plurality of the notches in the rear edge of each of the tumblers. The knife member consists of a flat plate or disc moved linearly by means of an operating member, whereby the knife member is guided in guides in a frame of the lock.

[ 1 May 30, 1972 541 SELF-CODIFYING LOCK FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLlCATlONS 1968 Norway...................................70/384 [72] Inventor: Elnar Holst, Skogueisan 6, 1450 Nesodd- 115,324

tangen, Norway Jan. 15, 1971 Primary Examiner-Robert L. Wolfe [22] Filed:

Attorney-Pennie, Edmonds, Morton, Taylor & Adams [21] Appl. No.: ABSTRACT Self-codifying lock of the type comprisinga plurality of tumblers in a tumbler pack which, on use of a key, are orientated so that a boss or finger on the bolt of the lock achieves passage in registered slots in the tumblers. A knife member constitutes a pivotal point by engaging in one of a plurality of the notches in the rear edge of each of the tumblers. The knife member consists of a flat plate or disc moved linearly by means of an [52] US. [51] Int.Cl. [58] FieldofSearch.........r.........

References Cited operating member, whereby the knlfe member is guided in guides in a frame of the lock.

UNITED STATES PATENTS 2 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures 1,136,067 Watson....................................70/383 SELF -CODIFYING LOCK The present invention relates to an improvement in a selfcodifying lock of the type comprising a plurality of tumblers in a tumbler pack which, by use of a key, are orientated so that a boss or finger on the bolt of the lock achieves passage in registered slots in the tumblers, and where the tumblers during the said orientation by the key pivot about a pivotal point at the rear edges of said tumblers, the said pivotal point being constituted by a movable knife member which engages in one of several notches in each of the rear edges of the tumblers, the said knife member being released from engagement with the tumbler notches by means of an operating member, so as to be adjusted to a new key when the said key is inserted into the key-hole of the lock and is turned so that the tumblers rest at their center portions, against the profile of the said key, whereby the slots in each tumbler are brought into registry, the leading edge of the tumblers being supported by a movable support member which operates together with the operating member of the knife member.

Such a self-codifying lock is known from the inventors own Norwegian Pat. No. ll5,324. The knife member. therein is pivotally mounted on an axle and is forced into engagement with the locking notches by means of the said operating member and is released from the locking notches by means of a spring when the operating member is withdrawn. The notches in the rear edge of the tumblers are very small, however, and it has proved impossible to produce the pivotal knife member so accurately that an exact engagement in the corresponding locking notches is ensured. This means that each lock must be adjusted by hand with respect to the pivotable knife member. This adjustment is time-consuming and expensive.

The object of the present invention is to eliminate this disadvantage in locks of the above said type, so as to achieve in all circumstances an accurate engagement of the movable knife member in the notches at the rear edge of the tumblers.

According to the invention, this is achieved inthat the knife member consists of a flat plate or disc adapted to be moved linearly by means of the operating member, the knife member being guided in guides in the frame of the lock. By such an embodiment of the knife member, a pivotal movement of the said member is avoided and no resilient members which can cause inaccuracy are included. The guides in theframe are precisely orientated to the position of the tumblers in the frame and will at all times guide the knife directly into the corresponding notches at the rear edge of the tumblers. A further disadvantage of the existing self-codifying locks is that the movable support member, which supports the leading edge of the tumblers when adjustinga new lock, so that the slots in all the tumblers are in registry and the finger of the bolt achieves passage in the slot, is orientated exclusively in supporting position by means of an operating member. Even slight inaccuracies in the production of the relatively long members will cause an inaccurate setting of the support member which will support the leading edges of the tumblers in such a manner that the slots are not disposed in the path of movement of the bolt boss but will lock the movement of the bolt during adjustment of a new key.

This is eliminated by means of the present invention, in that the member which supports the tumblers at their leading end has a restricted path of movement since it is supported in its supporting position for the tumblers against an edge of the frame of the lock. The supporting member is moved only one way by the operating member, viz. from a supporting position, and is entirely released from the operating member by adjustment of a new key and is pressed into engagement against the said edge of the frame by means of a spring.

The invention is further explained in the following, with reference to the drawing which illustrates an embodiment example of the invention.

FIG. 1 is an internal view'of the lock in the embodiment form adapted for use as an ordinary lock and which locks, for example, safe deposit boxes in railway stations and the like, when a coin mechanism is mounted.

FIG. 2 shows the'same lock with part of the frame removed, and with the knife member in engagement with the notches at the rear edge of the tumblers.

FIG. 3 is the same view as FIG. 2, but with the knife out of engagement with the notches at the rear edge of the tumblers.

FIG. 4 shows the essential part of the invention in perspective.

The lock according to the inventionis constituted in the main by a mounting plate 1. To the mounting plate 1 is mounted a plate frame 2 which holds the various parts of the lock in place. On insertion of the correct key in the lock the bolt 3 of the lock can be moved in and out on rotation of the key. During rotation of the key, a barrel 4 is rotated upon which is mounted an arm 5 which is in engagement in the space between two bosses 6 and 7 on the bolt 3. The bolt is provided on the underside thereof with a boss or finger 8 which, onretraction of the bolt 3 in the lock, will slide into registered slots 9 in the tumblers 10. The said slots 9 will be in registry only when the correct key is inserted in the lock. If another key is inserted in the lock, the notches in the lock will cause the slots 9 in the various tumblers to be out of registry, so that the finger 8 cannot be moved inwardly in the lock. As will be seen from FIG. 4, a number of tumblers 10 are disposed after one another. 1

The separate tumblers 10 are thus pivoted by the key profile. The pivotal point of this movement is a knife 1 l which may be moved in an out of engagement with a plurality of notches 12 in the rear ends of the tumblers 10. On normal use of the lock, the knife 11 is in engagement with a notch 12, as illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4.

When a new key is to be fitted, the knife 11 is withdrawn from engagement with the notches 12. This is done by means of an operating member 13 which is guided in a guide 14 on I the mounting plate I. The operating member 13 passes with a curved portion 15 through an opening 16 in the plate-shaped knife '11. The portion 15 is curved inwardly towards the notches I2 and merges into the upper portions of the lock member by means inclined edges 17, 18. An angular support member is mounted at 19 in the frame 2 of the lock. One. arm 20 of the support member of the tumbler 10 extends from the pivotal point 19 parallel to the operating member 13. The second arm 21 is located on the underside-of the tumblers, 10. The arm'20 is provided at its upper end with a curved portion 22 which bears against a similarly curved portion 23 on the operating member 13.

When a new key is to be fitted in the lock, the following measures are undertaken:

The key to be fitted is inserted in the key-hole 24 in an oblique position as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. The key may not then be rotated since the tumblers 10 are not orientated so that the slots are in registry and the finger 8 cannot then be moved inwardly in the lock. In order to adjust the key, the operating member 13 for the knife 11 is drawn upwardly and the oblique edge 17 presses the knife 11 outwardly, so that the knife 11 is in the position illustrated in FIG. 3. The rear edge of the tumblers is then released from engagement with the knife 11 and the key may be turned to the position illustrated on FIG. 3. At the same time as the knife 11 is withdrawn from engagement with the notches 12, the arm 20 of the support member is released so that the arm 21 may pivot freely upwardly subject to the action of the spring 25. All the tumblers 10 are supported by a tongue 26 on the arm 21, the tongue being in bearing relationship against the edge 27 on the frame 2. All the tumblers 10 are thus orientated at their leading ends and the finger 8 may pass freely into the slot 9 inwardly in the lock. With the key in the position illustrated in FIG. 3, and with the member 26 as support beneath the leading portion of the tumblers 10, the knife 11 can be passed into a locking notch 12 at the rear edge of the tumblers, the member 13 being pushed downwardly so that the other side of the inclined surface 17 will push the knife 11 into engagement with a notch 12. The knife 1 I has a precise linear movement since it slides in a guide 28 in the frame 2 of the lock.

Having descibed my invention, I claim:

1. Improvement in self-codifying lock of the type comprising a plurality of tumblers in a tumbler pack which, on use of a key, are orientated so that a boss or finger on the bolt of the lock achieves passage in registered slots in the tumblers, and where the tumblers during the said orientation by the key pivot about a pivotal point at their rear edges, the said pivotal point being constituted by a movable knife member which engages in one of a plurality of notches in the rear edges of each of the tumblers, the said knife member being released from its engagement with the notches of the tumbler by means of an operating member, so that a new key may be fitted, the said key being inserted into the key-hole of the lock so that the tumblers rest with their central portion against the profile of the key, whereby the slots in each tumbler are brought into rethe member which supports the tumblers at their leading ends has a restricted path movement, it being supported in its sup porting position for the tumblers against an edge of the lock frame.

0 I I i t 

1. Improvement in self-codifying lock of the type comprising a plurality of tumblers in a tumbler pack which, on use of a key, are orientated so that a boss or finger on the bolt of the lock achieves passage in registered slots in the tumblers, and where the tumblers during the said orientation by the key pivot about a pivotal point at their rear edges, the said pivotal point being constituted by a movable knife member which engages in one of a plurality of notches in the rear edges of each of the tumblers, the said knife member being released from its engagement with the notches of the tumbler by means of an operating member, so that a new key may be fitted, the said key being inserted into the keyhole of the lock so that the tumblers rest with their central portion against the profile of the key, whereby the slots in each tumbler are brought into registry, the leading edges of the tumblers being supported by a movable member which operates simultaneously with the operating member of the knife member, characterized in that the knife member consists of a flat plate or disc which is intended to be moved linearly by means of the operating member, the knife member being guided in guides in the frame of the lock.
 2. Improvement according to claim 1, characterized in that the member which supports the tumblers at their leading ends has a restricted path movement, it being supported in its supporting position for the tumblers against an edge of the lock frame. 